Career
At the 1922 election, he lost the seat by a majority of only 22 votes to the Liberal Party candidate, Reginald Berkeley. He stood again in 1923, but Berkeley was returned with a majority of 1,805, and Atkey did not stand for Parliament again. Instead he concentrated on local politics and became Sheriff of Nottingham in 1910 and Lord Mayor of Nottingham in 1928.
His term of office as Lord Mayor is best remembered for the opening of Nottingham Council House by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) on 22 May 1929.
Atkey was a prominent businessman and founded Arkansas Atkey Limited, the first motor traders in Nottingham. He was knighted in 1935.